Industrial Design

Many of Emo's projects are ultra-modern and hewn predominantly from glossy plastics and metals. The Italian, industrial design consultancy often works in sports equipment, electronics and modern furnishings. Their recent design project, Hug, shown at the Salone del Mobile, finds an interesting middle ground—the form is smooth and modern but with a distinct sense of craftsmanship created through the uneven and hand-sawed surfaces.

Another successful Kickstarter project in its funding infancy, Scanbox has already achieved full funding with almost $70 thousand raised of its $12,500 goal. With 38 days left, it's clear that backers think this product will be a useful tool.

How many times have you propped up your phone using a random object only to wish you'd had a real kickstand? If you're anything like me, it's happened on multiple occasions (let's be honest—youtube) and mostly with unsuccessful results. I also know that it's likely that I might (would) break a flimsy plastic kickstand protruding from my phone and/or lose an extra piece.

Reaching $1 million in 28 hours, Pebble was sure to break some records over at Kickstarter. It seems pertinent to mention that the project's initial goal was $100,000—ten-times less than their first day of funding attracted.

Part Tron fantasy bicycle, part safety powerhouse, this bicycle concept by Teague marries form and function in a beautiful way. The Pulse bike injects safety features that manage to add cool to the classically inspired frame instead of detracting from it. The mid-section of the bike is coated with photo-luminescent powder for added visibility and safety during night riding. They incorporated intuitive and common-sense controls for safety and sophistication, including bar-end mounted LED turn signals.

The Pil pendant lamp was dreamed up by New Zealand-based product-design studio Designtree. It's an object that is both functionally and visually beautiful. They reference the pill shape and form, but the lights feel warm and modern instead of edgy and alternative.

The lights are crafted with hand-turned logs from the Southland forests of New Zealand, and artisan blown glass forms the LED-lit dome, marrying "old-school craftsmanship with cutting-edge ... lighting technology to produce a beautifully rich sculptural piece."

Graphic designer Tommaso Guerra dabbles in industrial design, finding ways to incorporate found objects and alternative materials in his lighting projects. From exposed copper piping and teapots, to bottles and guitar bodies his projects could be seen as examples of craft and re-use, but they also exemplify creative thinking—seeing new purpose in an already practical object.

New-York based Bauhaus design student and product designer Arvid Häusser is the designer behind Seppl, a porcelain espresso machine. He chose to use porcelain—a material we don't often see in appliances anymore—because of its thermal storage capabilities, sanitation and ease of cleaning. Plus, visually, it appeals to a wide-range of tastes.

The original plan for Naos came about as part of the "La Petite invite # Nuits Sonores" contemporary music Festival in Toulouse, France. Paper Donut originally designed the pendant as an interlocking paper structure. After seeing great interest in the pendant during and after the festival, Alexis Facca decided to produce the lamp on a larger scale in November of 2010. It's a great example of form meeting function.